Do you know that each briton waste 20-25kg of electronic goods waste (also called e-Waste) per year. Most of the refuse ends up in landfills, is incinerated or simply piles up unused in people’s home. There are several things you can do:
1- Do not throw your old consumer goods in the bin or in a landfill. Instead, send it to a recycling company. Also, make sure you buy from companies who will take back your goods when you no longer want them. More and more companies are committed to recycling their own goods when you’re done with them. So please do your home work.
2- Repair yourself. Consumer goods are fun to repair. Start with simple tasks such as changing the lithium battery of your phone and then go more complicated. Develop your own expertise in repair: you won’t regret it. “IFIXIT” is a tremendous resource to learn how to fix things: click here to access it.
3- Send for repair in your local area or post for repair. We tend to lament the loss of the local repair shop. But there are companies and shops that will repair consumer goods, notably phones. Look in your local area and there might be some repair people who might be able to help. Also look here: https://therestartproject.org/ for the next local repair fair!.
4- Delay the upgrade. We frantically seek the newest model: I understand the impulse but please postpone it for a year of two. If everyone of us do so, we’ll save 100s millions of consumer goods going to the dump.
5- And if you really want to get upgrade, then sell your old goods on eBay or CEX. CEX also provides second hand and recycled goods.